Operating device for cinematographs.



UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

ARTHUR, B. SELDEN, 0F BOCHESTEIL NEW YORK.

OYEBATING DEVIE FOR CINEMATOGRAPHS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Deo. 1S, 1917.

Application led August 4, 1916. criei No. 113,1821.

To all 'whom it may Concern Be it known that I, .ARTHUR R. SELDEN, acitizen of the United States, und resident of Rochester, in 'the countyof Monroe end State oli-New York, have invented cert-ein new and usefulImprovements in Operating Devices forCiIie1netograplis, of which thefollowing is a specification.

'This invention relates to operating devices for cincmatographs and thisapplication contains mutter divided from an applica- A tion filed by meon Merch 20, 191.6, Serial No. 85,297, one object of the invention heingto provide a desirable ineens :icr'ectnating the mechanism of aeinenietograph in such a. manner that no jarior shock wiil ce impartedto it, due to irregi lnrities of move-- ment. in the `manually operateddriving crank. A further object of the invention. is to provide Ineenswhereby the cinematoraph may be manipulated in any desired irection byboth hands of an operator, the driving mechanism being independent ofthe means by which the machine is directed.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain parte andcombinations nism in the form of a crank 1 fixed to :i shaft 2 that isrotatable in a housing 3. This housing is suitably attached to a head tthat constitutes the connecting member between a set of legs 5, 6 and 7,the Whole serving in the manner of a tripod, as a support for theoperating crank. In the present form ot the device, the ferrule of theleg 5 is illustrated as integral with the head 4 so that this leg isrigid with the head, While the legs 6 und 7 are hinged to this plete inany Wellknown manner. The added rigidity of the tripod that is obtainedby this construction is an important feature of the invention. On theend of theshaft 2, within the housing 3, is'xed a miter gear 8, thatmeshesl with a similar gear 9 on a shaft 10 The latter' extends througha bearing 11 that is part of the plete 4.

In order to drive the cinenietograph 154 Without vibration and withoutimparting to it the slight irregularities of the crank Inovement, aleiiihie connector is provided that,

is iernoveliiy ett c red to the shaft 10 and is eimiiariy attached tothe main shaft of the cineinatogreph, in the manner shown in iny pent"ication, Serial No, 85,297, iiled Ma t, 1911?. .l'he connector 13 isprcferefh ,'irovidcd with a. head i4, having :ai it 15,5 is adapted toengage on tire shaft i0, such a' transivj. The connector is providedwith the sis-ual flexible sheath 17, 'Whicl'i is readily attached to anddetached from the hearing' 11 hy means spring clips 18 that snap intonotches 19, and thus' hold` the sheath :llgainst rotation, and byengaging the shoulders 20, maintain it in the required position. Theiiexihle shaft yields in the di rection of turning as to prevent anysudden inmfeinents in the driving or operating member being transmitted.to the cinematic* graph.

To further provide ing the crank: 1 and cords 911 to its associated,parts, the tripod legs 5, (i

- end and these cords are joined in an adjustahle stirrup 22. The personoperating the crunk i. may place one :toot in this stirrup, and so mayholdv the 'tripod steady While turning the crank with one hand. The legsof the tripod may be provided with pads 2 3 near their lower' ends,toprevent toodeep entrance of the` points into the ground or othersurface on which the device'may rest.

`'It is preferable, with the present form of the invention, to have oneperson operate the crank l, and another manipulate the cinemetograph l2,as indicated. in 1.

In order that the clnematograph may be instantly and freely swung to anydesired position and held es directed, a single support is provided forit such as an ordinary tripod leg 24- of the cinematograph 12 beingpreferably fixed on a plate 2 5 at the up* per end of' this leg, andprovided on each side with a grip or handle 26. These handles are solocated that the operator may grasp one in each hand, so as to readilyswing the machine and the leg 24 about the bottom end of the latter, asa pivot, either backwardly and forwardly as well as from for rigidlysupport#V4 i right to left, or in an arc of a circle, or a combinationof both movements. Any

movement of the cinematograph will not move the tripod or operatingcrank, and the flexible connector 13 will continue to drive themechanism at the required speed as long as the secondvman turns thecrank. M

By reason of the operator having both hands apail'able to direct themovement of` the cinematograph, it is possible to exercise a veryaccurate control over it with little effort. The leg 24 may beconstructed in any .well known maenner so as to be foldable,

vtelescoping, or otherwise' adjustable, in 0rder to permit the operatorto regulate the height of the apparatus so that the finder or sightaperture 27 will be on a level with his eye.r A pad 28 on theleg 24 actsina similar manner to the pads 23 and serves as a suitable pivotingbase.

What I claim as my invention, and desire A to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. In combination "with a cinematograph having a suitable support, astand adapted to rest upon the ground, separate from the cinematograph,anl operating member mounted on the stand and driving connection betweenthe operating member, and the cinematograph embodying'a flexible part.

2. In combination with a cinematograph 'having a suitable support, astand adapted.

to rest upon the ground, separate from the clnematograph, an operatingmember mounted on the stand` and driving connection between the ogratingmember and the cnematograph em odying a part yieldable in the directionof turning.

3. An operating device for cinematographs comprising a. tripod, anoperating handle mounted on the tripod, and a flexible shaft connectedto the handle and'having vmeans adapting it for connection With Iacinematograph.

4. In .combination with a cinematograph, i I. supporting means thereforpermitting the cinematograph to swing freely both" verti cally andhorizontally, a pair of hand pieces secured to opposite sides of saidcinematograph by which the latter may be swung in the desired direction,and an operating-member supportedindependently of the cinematograph andhaving drivingconne'ction with the latter` 5. An operating device forcinemato-v graphs comprising a tripod having one leg thereof rigid withthe head and the other legs pivoted to the head, an operating handlemounted on the tripod, and means for connecting said handle withv ainematograph.

ARTHUR R, SELDEN. l l

